Cops foil dad, step-mom’s bid to sell newborn, arrest middleman

Silchar: Silchar police have foiled an alleged newborn trafficking attempt and arrested a suspected middleman involved in the fraudulent handover of a baby boy.The child, who was taken away from his biological mother under deceptive circumstances, has been rescued unharmed from the custody of a childless couple.

Meanwhile, the prime accused — the infant’s father and stepmother — remain absconding.The arrested accused has been identified as Amir Hossain of Madhurband, Silchar. Police sources said Amir was known locally for his brokerage activities and is suspected to be a link in a wider child-selling network active in the region.According to the FIR lodged by the victim mother, Somirun Nessa, originally from Ratabari in Sribhumi district, she had been living in a rented house in Madhurband with the newborn’s father, Gulzar Hossain Talukdar.

Gulzar is also married to Roshna Begum, his first wife and stepmother of the infant.Somirun delivered a baby boy at Silchar Medical College & Hospital (SMCH) on Oct 27 and was discharged on Nov 3. On Nov 7, Gulzar — accompanied by Roshna and Amir — visited her and proposed taking her and the newborn to the family home in Ratabari. Believing them, Somirun agreed.The trio took Somirun and the baby to Ramnagar ISBT, Silchar.

While waiting for transport, Gulzar took the infant away, saying he would return shortly. Roshna and Amir followed. When they did not return for a long time, Somirun realised she had been deceived and rushed to lodge a complaint with the police.Acting promptly, police picked up Amir on Thursday. Based on information gathered during interrogation, officers traced the baby to a childless couple at the woman’s paternal home in Durganagar, Udarband.

The couple, residents of Arkatipur, claimed they were misled into believing that Roshna was the biological mother and that she had willingly handed over the child. They also denied any monetary transaction, but investigators suspect financial dealings and a deeper trafficking angle.Amir was produced in court on Thursday and remanded in judicial custody. Police have launched a manhunt to trace Gulzar and Roshna. Officials said more arrests are likely as the investigation expands into what appears to be a wider child-selling racket.